With Barry Bonds climbing the HR charts, there has been a lot of talk about putting an * by his name due to rumblings of steriod abuse. That his numbers are meaningless. Well, for once, I'll take to his defense and say there should be no * by his name.

*He hasn't been found guilty of doing anything wrong. Yet. You cannot "convict" him of doing something when he has not been found to do anything wrong. Sure, we may never find out. And until we do, his numbers still matter.

*If we are to stick astericks by people's names...then lets do it to everyone. Hank Aaron played during the "expansion era". The NL grew from 8 to 12 teams in this time frame. And the AL added 4 teams as well. That means pitching thinned out from 16 teams of 24 teams. 33% of the pitchers would have been there before. Maybe this accounts for Aaron great production later in his career. Also, people make a bid stink over the fact that there are bandboxes all over the majors today. Well, didn't Aaron play out his career in a stadium dubbed "The Launching Pad"?? Babe Ruth played in an all-white era. No black or latino players were allowed to play. Mark McGwire admitted to taking a suppliment that has since been made illegal in MLB.

*If Bonds, using steriods, is doing this....then why isn't Jose Canseco and Ken Caminiti also putting up these kind of numbers?? Both are admitted steriod users...yet both bowed out of the majors ungracefully.

Sure, if it is found that Barry Bonds is using [or has used] steriods during his career...it will taint everything he ever done. But don't convict the man until it has been shown that he cheated.

I have always been one to defend the fans voting for the All Star Game. It's supposed to be a "dream game" for the fans to see their favorite players compete in an exhibition game.

I'm starting to change my stance.

Nomar Garciaparra is the leading vote-getter for shortstop in the American League. His current stat line is 0 HR, 2 RBI, 2 hits, 2 runs.....and he just started his season a monthe before the All Star Game.

Normally, I'm like, "whatever...that is just the quirks of the system". Well, now Games 1 and 7 of the World Series are decided by this game. So we don't need the fans to vote for squat.

FAN #! votes for everyone on his team. What in the hell is the point? Go to one of your team's games if you want to see them play.

FAN #2 votes for the famous players. You know, like in the Nomar case. A lot of these people have never heard of Michael Young to care to vote for him.

Again, I used to not have a problem with any of that. But, with 16 National League teams....you cannot afford to have dumb selections on there. Since every team must be represented, 16 slots are already taken. Nomar's election to the AL team would mean that a spot that went to another player is gone. Because there HAS to be a Devil Ray, a Royal and a Mariner on that team.......there is 3 more spots gone.

*Here is an easy solution. Instead of having EVERYONE on the ballot [and handing them out after one week of play].....hand out the ballot at the beginning of June. Figure the top 5 guys at each position [15 for outfield]......and have the fans vote from there. That way, the starters would be picked from a much smaller pile. Plus that would elimintate the "Ralph Nader votes" [people who vote for the hometown team instead of actually using it correctly] and make the real contenders have a nice voting race.

*Or, keep the voting as is. But, the fans only voted these guys on the team. After the coaches select the rest of the players....then the manager can look over his roster, and choose his starting lineup.

*Just have the winning league in the "Home Run Derby" get the home Game 7 of the World Series.

Either way, it could help eliminate a relief pitcher from the Brewers deciding where Game 7 of the Series will be played.

It really isn't that difficult to make changes to the way the MLB All Star Game is selected. It is just reorganizing what is taking place already.

First....what is the "All Star Game"?? Is it a game where the fans hook up their dream matchups? I mean, what is better than having an outfield with Barry Bonds, Ken Griffey Jr and Sammy Sosa??? Three guys who've hit over 500 HR in their career. If it was based soley on first half merit....Sosa wouldn't be there. If the All Star Game is for the fans....then let the fans have their say. I mean, the only league where the fans have less of a say is in the NFL [where fans used to have NO say]. But that is called an "All Pro Game". What a "pro" and a "star" are are too different things. In tennis, Lindsay Davenport is a pro. Anna Pornakova is a star.

But, there has always been fan travesties in the voting. I will never deny that. Was Cal Ripken Jr the best shortstop all those years in the 90s?? Probably not. Or even Roberto Alomar? Ozzie Smith?? All of that is up for debate. Remember, Nomar Garciaparra led the voting for AL shortstop most of the spring and he hadn't played a game yet. And add to that the Yankee connection. Since the Yankees are the biggest thing going....of course their players will get more votes. New York is by far the nations largest city. If every citizen in the New York area voted for Jason Giambi as 1st baseman ONCE....then every citizen in Kansas City would have to vote Mike Sweeny 20 times to even equal that total. And no one outside of KC would even think of voting for Sweeney.

So...let's do this instead. Have the managers and players vote on who they think should represent the respective leagues in the All Star Game. Then let the fans pick the starters. Cool??

Pick a day for the players to vote on the best of the best. On that day, each player will get their ONE ballot and whom they think is their starting 8 on each team...plus a few starting pitchers, long relief and closer. From those ballots...comprise the 30 guys for each league's All Star roster. If there needs to be the ol' "one guy from every team" rule....then do that. There is your All Star team. Have that ready in late June. Then, let the fans vote from those players who starts that game. Get rid of the "punch ballots" that are sooooo 1970s and 1980s. With the internet around [which is how most of the fan voting takes place] it would be easier to compile the fans vote. And for the fan that goes to the games....set up internet voting booths or kiosks around the ballpark.

If you wanted to....put on that fan ballot the final 5-8 guys from each league that just missed the cut.....and let the fans vote 2 from each league to make the squad.

That way....there shouldn't be 7 of the 32 players on the AL team be Yankees. Think about it...7 are Yankees and you must allow 13 other players as the one allotted per team on the roster...and that left just 12 for doubles for other franchises. This way...guys who deserve to be there will still be there...and fans get to vote who they want to see start.

Sure. That would probably keep Sammy Sosa out of Tuesday's game. But, hey....it would also keep Jason Giambi out of it too.

I recently posted an entry on whether or not Barry Larkin deserves to be in the Baseball Hall Of Fame. If you look at his stats…he probably is not. That then brings up Fred McGriff, Rafael Palmeiro, Jose Canseco and others. I also talked about how Mike Tyson, though one of the most feared men of his time, really didn’t have that great of a heavyweight career.

It is funny, however, the amount of admiration certain athletes get for whatever reason.

Joe Namath is one of the most famous players in NFL history. His waving his finger as he ran into the tunnel after winning Super Bowl III is one of the most known images in all of sports. And because of that…and the fact he did that in New York….he is in the Hall Of Fame. I mean, after that magical 1969 season….Namath never led his team to a winning record again. He threw 173 touchdowns and 220 interceptions. His 50% completion percentage is rather low as well. Yet, he is one of the best known Hall Of Famers. Using Joe Namath as a measuring stick….then Kurt Warner should be a shoo-in for the Hall as well. Just like Namath, you could argue that Warner had just as dominant a 3-year stretch as Namath…and Warner went to TWO Super Bowls and had TWO league MVPs.

Lynn Swan is also in the Pro Football Hall Of Fame. He was a Pro Bowler only 3 times in only nine seasons. He caught less than 350 catches….Art Monk, who can’t get into the HOF, has over 900 catches. He is not in the top 50 of any major career category for receivers. Yet he’s a Hall Of Famer.

Two of my biggest NBA gripes are Bill Walton and Pete Maravich. Yeah, both guys had their careers cut short by injury. Walton holds career averages of 13.3 pts and 10.5 reb. His top scoring output was 18.9 ppg in only 58 games in 1978.…his last in Portland. From there, his production drastically declined…and he only averaged 46.8 games per season….and only ONCE playing more than 67 games in a season. Pistol Pete’s career averages are much better. He averaged 24.2 pts over his career. But he played on bad Hawks and Jazz teams.

Pete Rose was one of my favorite ballplayers. He does own the all time hits record and #4192 will always be remembered in my heart. But, that’s the only thing he was better at Ty Cobb hitting-wise. For being dubbed “the hit king”….his career average was only .303. Cobb owned a .366 average. His best RBI season was 82. Yeah, I know….he led off a lot….but he only had 198 lifetime steals. Cobb had over 4 times as many steals and 7 seasons where he had 100+ RBIs.

For the past two seasons….we’ve heard more whining from Sammy than anything worth screaming about on the field. He’s complained about manager Dusty Baker….corking bats….moving down in the lineup. Actually, this was a Cubs trend all year. Complaining. Word was that Cubs players were “hurt” by criticism from the Cubs television announcers. Sosa also was criticized for hurting his back….sneezing.

Sosa is the face of the Cubs franchise. Not only the face of the Cubs…but one of the faces of baseball. If you ask non-baseball fans to name 5 players….Sosa’s name would come out of a lot of mouths. It is rare that someone with his background becomes so popular. He’s achieved that status as a Dominican-born player who basically came from nothing. He turned that into a contract that will pay him $17M next season and numerous endorsement deals.

He didn’t have a horrible year. In just 126 games…he knocked 35 HR and 80 RBI. But he hit just .253 for the season and was a bad teammate. Not only did he miss time for sneezing…but he also was miffed about dropping down in the batting order to appease the acquisition of Nomar Garciaparra. And, on the final day of the season in which the Cubs had just recently been eliminated…Sosa bolted during the game. Oh, he said he was in the clubhouse. Okay. And that corked bat you used was just an accident, right??

What is that?? Since the Cubs massively underachieved, they’ll have October off. They’ll also be off from November to February too. In March, Sosa will do some light sprints, workouts, and a few swings in spring training. Is it too much to ask to stay just one more day?? After all, you’re getting paid $87,000 that day to be there. Most people don’t make half that in a YEAR!! It’s not worth rooting on your teammates that rooted for you during the season??? It’s not worth it to fans who showed up to the Cubs finale at Wrigley Field to just stick around….maybe tip your cap to them for paying your salary….and just watch the game. I mean, most of them paid $50 to be there. The Cubs are paying you $87K to be there.

Now, Sosa and his agent believe the fine is too severe. Huh??? You were fined one game’s pay. The game that your client didn’t show up for. Why should he get paid?? There are also underlying rumors of possible trade talks. Sosa says he wants to stay….but the Cubs would like to move him. It is highly unlikely since he’s set to make $17M next year. Too much for a slugger on the decline.

This is just another black eye for a Chicago Cubs team that just dumped all over their lofty expectations.

First thing….I do not believe in “The Curse”. I’ve stated my case on that fact before [Why Care About The Red Sox?]. But, going this long without a title….then winning one…is quite a magical thing. And no matter if it is your first title in 86 years or your second in three years [Patriots fans]….a title is special no matter what.

It wasn’t just the fact that the Sox won the World Series….it is how they did in. In effect, they swept their three playoff opponents. They completely annihilated the Anaheim Angels [I should know, I drew the Halos in our playoff pool]. Then, they did the impossible…..coming back from down 0-3 to win the ALCS against the hated New York Yankees. For the finale, they made the World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals into a 4-day preparation to the clinching Game 4...in which Chowd Nation got to finally let loose.

In that run, Terry Francona….yeah the guy that kept the Phillies in a funk….beat fellow managers Mike Scocia, Joe Torre and Tony LaRussa. All three of those guys own World Series rings. The Angels made a big off season splash with the signing of Bartolo Colon and Vlad Gurerrero. The Yanks traded for A-Rod and signed Gary Sheffield. The Cards dealt for Rolen last year and Larry Walker this year. But, it was Boston who got Curt Schilling [who miraculously won Game 6 of the ALCS and Game 2 of the World Series] and Folke [who closed out all for Series games] that turned out to be the biggest moves.

Not just that. But they waived Manny Ramirez. All 29 other teams had their chance to nab him….and none did. So he stayed a Red Sock, won the World Series MVP and possibly the regular season MVP award. They also dealt Nomar Garciaparra for Orlando Cabrera which helped shore up their defense and provided some offense as well. They also relied on pitchers Pedro Martinez and Derek Lowe, who are in their final years of their contracts. You had The Passion Of The Damon in center field. This was a self proclaimed team of “idiots”.

Maybe that attitude worked. The amazing thing about idiots is they have no idea what’s going on around them. And that was a good thing for the BoSox. I mean, the team butchered up the field with errors all season [and postseason] long. They made the easy play hard…then a hard play easy. Going into the year, this was to be the season the Red Sox passed the Yankees….then the Yankees pulled away with the division again. Then, the team made that AMAZING comeback against the Yankees in the ALCS. Then that World Series dominance. All that with the hopes and dreams and “curses” hovering above them.

I’m not a Red Sox fan. In fact, baseball fans who don’t like the Red Sox were on the fence of rooting for them or not. I found myself rooting for them to win….just to see if Y2K would crash the computers, hell freezes over or to see pigs flying around. But then, it would have been funny to see them lose again. No offense, Chowds….but Charlie Brown still has never kicked the football

I will say this…after watching this post season, I GREATLY ADMIRE the Chowd Nation. These fans believed in their team even when it didn’t look good for them. They’ve supported their team when Aaron Boone’s knock sailed over the fence and when Folke tossed that ball to 1st base. I was amazed to see how many of them were in St. Louis cheering the team on.

You guys have much to be proud of. Celebrate this team. Bad history aside, this team was truly a memorable team. Adding back the history, they spit in its face.

Barry Bonds will bring his 7th MVP award this week.Seven.Seven.Seven.That is completely unreal.Oh…how is FOUR STRAIGHT MVP awards for you??Four straight.

That is more than Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, Ted Williams and Willie Mays put together.Seven MVP awards since 1990.And, if you do the math….that means only 8 times in that span did someone else won it in the National League.

He broke the tie with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar [who leads the NBA with 6 MVP awards] to own sole possession of second place in sports.Only Wayne Gretzky’s 9 NHL MVP awards tops Bonds.

He became only the second man to lead his league in hitting when he was older than 40.The other is Ted Williams.He is the oldest man to hit 45home runs.His on-base percentage was .609….the all-time best mark in the history of the game.He led the league in slugging, Only himself and Babe Ruth reached base more than he did this year….376 times.He had 101 RBI….and only recorded 373 at-bats.That means, technically, a third of the time he had an at-bat…someone scored.He walked 232 times this year, including 120 intentional walks [no MLB team was within 50 of that mark].

Heck….if he was in the AL, Bonds Intentional Walks would lead with 120, Bonds Unintentional Walks would be second with 112, Eric Chavez would be third with 95.If Bonds never had a base hit all season….he still would have a higher on-base percentage than Juan Pierre….the guy who led the NL in hits.Yet, despite all those walks…he still put up 45 HR, 101 RBI, .362, 129 runs.That is how SICK his numbers are.

Then, think about this:He should have 9 MVP awards already. Terry Pendleton and Jeff Kent's trophies should be sitting on Bonds' mantle.

I don't know if any of you guys have caught the press conference that announced Mike Fratello as the new head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies. It was one of the oddest things I've seen in a while in one of those press dealings.

Most of the time, no matter what the deal is....there is the "we're lucky to get this guy and lets build this future together!" feel about the press room that even glows on televsion.

Not this one. Jerry West looked very saddened...and quite depressed. This could be a clue into the severity of ex-Grizz coach Hubie Brown's "medical issues". Maybe it is quite serious. Maybe that is why the delay in getting The Czar in there. Maybe that's why the Grizz are 0-4 since Brown's retirement. All of this is speculation...but it does deserve noting.

One thing I also noticed.....West looks like he's out of Memphis pretty soon as well.

Watching The Logo at this news conference....you'd swear he was on the verge on making some sort of "surprise announcement". That is pretty much the only reason I even watched this news conference. I'm watching Jason Giambi's testimony and Ricky Williams re-retiring....and then this news conference comes on. I'd normally turn it off...but West just had this look about him.

He muttered and sputtered with his words. He also looked like he'd been thru complete hell. Whether it is Brown's condition...or even his own....he didn't look right. And when he introduced Fratello...he sort of did it in a "well, here's our coach" manner.

All of us here love Jerry West. I never got to see him as a player....and was too young to know him as a coach. To me, he is THE GM of all GMs. Our great 80s Laker teams....and that huge, huge, huge gamble of moving our entire roster to bring in Shaq. That could have backfired greatly. He left us after seeing his creation win titles. You can blame that on Phil Jackson if you will [West has also fueded at times with Hubie Brown about Bonzi Wells playing time]. You can blame it on the pressure of helming one of sports glamourous franchises. You can blame it on maybe West seeing the Kobe-Shaq cracks in the armor and didn't want to deal with rebuilding the Lakers again....just look what its done to Kupchak.

There are rumblings of Jerry West retiring after this season. A season in which the Grizzlies aren't doing too well. A 50-win team last year that was built on depth, chemistry and a group of guys out to prove themselves...has turned into just another team. I've always felt that depth is overrated. Depth isn't as big in the playoffs when you don't have back-to-back games. Their chemistry has been tested a bit. And those guys who were out to prove themselves have cashed in nicely [Gasol, Battier, Swift].

It isn't as bad as the Mike Bibby/Shareef Abdur Rahim/Bryant Reeves days....but in the Wild West that have seen the Hornets reduced to a 1-13 team....it is tough to try to fight back.

I hope all is well in the health of both Jerry West and Hubie Brown. I hope that their retirements will be spent with family and leisures. I also hope that neither use "retirement" as a means to stay completely away from the NBA.

Why does Mr. Average Fan have such contempt for today’s athlete??Well, because they ruin everything.We just had the Boston Red Sox make a historic comeback on their hated rivals, then go on to win their first World Series in 86 years.We currently have in the NFL THREE 10-1 teams and Peyton Manning putting up sick passing numbers.NCAA hoops has tipped off and we have a ton of outstanding teams that have legit shots at winning the title.The NBA is as wide open as it has been in over a decade.

Then, we have a Pacers vs. Pistons fans melee that has put the sports world in shock.A day later, we have a brawl between South Carolina and Clemson.We have Ricky Williams in and out of the NFL news with his garbage.We’ve had coaches quitting and being fired….even if they got their team into bowl games.We have a Kobe Bryant civil case, a Jayson Williams retrial, an NHL lockout, a looming NBA lockout, a BCS mess, Maurice Clarrett, and a ton of NCAA hoops program issues.Now this.

So….now it breaks.Statements made before a federal grand jury in the BALCO case are coming to light.Here is my take, bit by bit, on this whole mess:

SHOCKED??

No.Usually, where there is smoke…there is AT LEAST a mini fire.Sometimes those fires explode.All you need to do is see the sudden spike in the numbers these guys are putting up.Smaller stadiums, bad pitching and diluted talent have all contributed to this….but there were times in baseball history that those things happened as well.

BARRY BONDS

I’ve been on both sides of the fence with Barry.I’ve used this forum to shout my displeasures about Bonds…and I’ve also sung his praises.His numbers are simply amazing to me…no matter if he was on the juice or not.I hoped not.But, seeing those images of a slender Barry Bonds in his Pirates uniform against the hulking Bonds in his current Giants state is quite astounding [of course, in another POV, look at Tony Gwynn’s rookie physique against the one he retired with is comical as well].He may indeed have a heck of a training regimen…but how do you stretch those muscles in your jaw and forehead??How do you turn 35 years old and all of the sudden start doing things that no one else in the history of baseball are doing.

JASON GIAMBI

Gee.He shows up to spring training like 100 pounds lighter and has the worst year of his career.Doesn’t sound like someone trying to get off the juice, does it??Or the fact that he had weird medical issues including a PITUITARY problem, eh??So now the Yanks are trying to get out of his contract.I actually am not sure where I stand on this.First off, the Yankees decided to overpay him because they knew no one else could.So, they should have to deal with it.I mean, they made that investment…and not all investments turn out for the better.Of course, Giambi hasn’t held up to his part of the bargain as well.Besides the steroids, he’s also a known party guy who loves to live it up.“Live Like A Rock Star” he believes.He does owe the Yankees to give everything he has to live up to his huge contract.Of course, the Yankees…and everyone….knew this about Giambi in Oakland.Yet the Yanks thought it was alright to bring him into the New York culture.

ASTERISKS

You know….I’m not one for asterisks.I mean, what is the point??Does it really do anything except create arguments over which record is the real one??I mean, did the Roger Marisasterisk mean anything??Having said all of that….the asterisk is just there to notify in the history books of the “tainted record”.Who among us won’t know of Barry Bonds and his steroid use??And, in future discussions….this era could be known as the Age Of Steroids.I mean, Jose Canseco, Ken Caminiti, Jason Giambi and Barry Bonds have all admitted to using steroids.That is TEN MVP AWARD WINNERS admitting they were on the juice.If we throw an asterisk on Bonds 700+ home runs or a justifiable one on his 73 HR season…then we need to throw asterisks all over the place.Those MVP seasons.Oakland’s 3 straight AL pennants.Canseco’s 40-40 creation.San Diego’s NL Pennant.Possibly the 1997 Marlins World Series championship.And we’d need to look at Mark McGwire’s achievements as well…since Andro, though not illegal when he was taking it, is so now.He “retired” once Andro was banned from baseball [and most other sports] and looks remarkably different now then in his playing days.Asterisks are not necessary since history may view today’s baseball as the Steroid Era.

TAINTED RECORDS

All these records broken or created during this Steroid Era, to me, are still records.But they are tainted.No matter what the discussion is….how can you look at Bonds HR numbers, Babe Ruth’sHR numbers and Hank Aaron’s HR numbers and believe they are equivalent?All three did their time in completely different eras of baseball.Babe Ruth was hitting more HR than other TEAMS were.He was just so much better than everyone else.But, he did play in an all-white era of baseball…which doesn’t stain his numbers [since he didn’t control who was allowed to play in MLB] but it does garner some attention.He also played during a time where there were only 8 teams, shorter rotations and pitchers pitched entire games…which means Ruth saw the same pitchers over and over and with more of a tendency to be fatigued.Bonds, as I said, did his during an era of steroids, small ballparks, chartered flights, interleague play, the addition of 4 more teams and smaller strike zones.Aaron, who’s HR feat I admire the most, did his in an era where the NL went from 8 teams to 12 teams during his playing time.Point is, you can find fault in all numbers.The difference is that Bonds…ahem…knowingly cheated.Ruth and Aaron didn’t.

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALLWhat is the MLB going to do??Nothing.They can’t.They have a spineless leader against the strongest union in America.I mean, with all of the talk of steroids in the labor deal of a few years ago….what happened??After all of the pomp and circumstance, the baseball drug policy is an absolute joke.That is why baseball is falling, the NFL is #1 and the NBA has risen.Strong leadership.Baseball doesn’t have that

MARION JONES, GARY SHEFFIELD....

Rest assured, there will be more coming out.The most intriguing will be Marion Jones….since it involves a world class athlete in a sport that has a history of drug problems.But, the biggest name…and the one we all were waiting for…has been outed.And that really hurts our sports world as a whole.

Since I will be leaving in a week for a vacation…I’m going to go ahead and do my 2004 Wrap Up. For me, personally, it has been a fantastic year. My wife and I bought our first home…the biggest achievement in our 5+ years of marriage. There is nothing better to have all of those things you’ve spent dreaming up with each other actually come to fruition. He all have our health. We’ve had tons of help along the way from family and friends…and I thank everyone for their help. And thank God for her.

But, let’s talk sports. The Year 2004 has had quite a ride. Sure, most years have their great sporting moments and their sad sporting events. But, this year has had quite an array of weird and wild occurrences….not to mention some very historical events.

Year 2004 will mostly be remembered for the Boston Red Sox breaking “The Curse” and winning its first World Series in 86 years. I’m not a Red Sox fan….nor did I buy into curses or the “woe is us” feeling of the Sox Nation…but what this team in itself did was quite amazing. This team was DEAD. Completely dead. Down 0-3 to the Mighty Hated Yankees and down in the bottom of the 9th. Marino Rivera on the hill. Magically, Boston pulls out that game. But, how could they pull off the series?? Combining the greatest comeback in sports history with the greatest choke job [never forget A-Rod’s slap down the first base line], the Red Sox did it. After those 4 wins….the Red Sox went on to win 4 more and the World Series over St. Louis. Simply amazing! So, now instead of futility…all of sports will now point to the Red Sox as evidence that, in fittingly Yanks Yogi Berra’s words, it ain’t over til it’s over! So, while I didn’t buy into the Curse…I did buy into the love that the New Englanders have for their team. Quite rare in sports.

This was quite a year for sports champions. The Detroit Pistons surprised everyone outside the Great Lakes by smacking the Lakers so easily. Or the amazing feats of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Calgary Flames in the Stanley Cup Finals. We had the New England Patriots winning their second Super Bowl in three years. Or the Connecticut hoops teams winning the men’s and women’s titles.

How about Lance Armstrong winning a SIXTH Tour De France?? Or Phil Mickelson winning the Masters?? Kurt Busch coming back and winning the reformatted Nextel Cup?? Smarty Jones captured the hearts of everyone in and out of the horse racing industry.

Or the Athens Olympics?? In what was looking like one of the biggest mistakes in sporting history…the Athens Games did surprisingly well. LeBron James is showing why he may be better than Jordan. Roger Clemons, Barry Bonds and Randy Johnson did their thing after age 40. How about Freddy Adu, 14, trying to single-handedly save soccer in America. Big Ben winning 20 straight games [and counting] at Miami-OH and for the Steelers. Michelle Wie’s 68 at the PGA’s Sony Open.

Personally, for my teams…I had a pretty good year. Joe Gibbs returning the Redskins….though it didn‘t work out as well as hoped. The Lakers, despite the hate, did get to the NBA Finals by upsetting the Spurs [on a shot with 0.4 seconds left] and the Wolves. My Tar Heels made a surprising football run into the Continental Tire Bowl while the hoops team got back into the NCAA tournament and this year are a legit title contender. The NBA came back to Charlotte in the form of Bobcats.

Numbers?? Barry Bonds getting to 700 HR. Manning chasing Marino’s TD record. Ichiro broke the all time single season hits record which stood for 84 years. Streaks?? How about the Patriots record 21-game winning streak?? Or Payton Manning throwing at least 2 TD in 13 straight games. Eric Gagne reeled off 84 straight saves. Greg Maddux has won at least 15 games in 16 straight seasons. Or De La Salle’s football team losing a game which broke their 151 straight winning streak for high school football. The longest current streak is currently owned by my alma mater…Independence High School in Charlotte, NC [the Pats just won their 5th straight state title].

How about the heart warming story of the Iraqi Olympic soccer team??

For every great event…there are the bad ones. The sight of Ron Artest running up into the stands to fight all of the Pistons fans [except the ones that actually threw something at him] will live on for quite a while. I hope those 1,200 albums he’s sold will help deal with the pain. That followed the Lakers Breakup that sent Shaq to Miami, Phil to Montana, Payton to Boston and Karl to wherever….yet everyone still is talking smack. That all happened as Kobe Bryant’s sexual assault trial was suddenly dropped…right before it was set to happen. We had Breast-gate after Janet Jackson’s Super Bowl halftime performance which has had MAJOR repercussions across all of the media across the board. Ricky Williams decided to sit home and toke up instead of showing up for work. Oh, and Jamal Lewis’ suspension for drug trafficking. We had chairs thrown in Oakland…and bottles flying at Dodger Stadium. Or our USA Olympic basketball team coming up short.

We’ve had Armageddon in the NHL….and it doesn’t seem to be ending soon. Of course, the NHL and the players are finding out that no one cares if they are not playing. We’ve had a BCS controversy at the beginning of 2004 [Oklahoma, USC, LSU]...and now at the end [Oklahoma, USC, Auburn]. We had the whole Maurice Clarett/Ohio State crap come back up…only after he tried, and failed, to fight the NFL. Colorado was accused of providing alcohol and women as recruiting tools…and rape allegations followed. Pete Rose finally admitted he bet on baseball…but only after deciding to sell books to do it. How about the dumb fluff over the TO/Desperate Housewives intro??

The worst event [which will spill into 2005] could be the outing of many athletes in the BALCO [BALCO] case. It has already claimed Gary Sheffield, Jason Giambi and Barry Bonds. There will be others [namely Marion Jones] that will be thrown in front of the bus. But, there will be a chain reaction due to testing and witch hunts that may claim quite a few others.

There were sad events….like Pat Tillman killed in action in Afghanistan. The plane crash that killed four members of the Hendrick family. The Expos were dragged and killed in Montreal so everyone could cash in on quickly selling them to a DC market. Hurricanes unmercifully ravaged the state of Florida…which [not as importantly] played havoc with sports schedules all over the gulf states.

Amazing all of that…plus so much morehappened in just 366 days [yep, leap year] in sports.

Since December....the sports world has been all abuzz about the use of steroids in Major League Baseball over the past 15-20 years.

Actually....the sports world hasn’t really been “abuzz”. Just the people covering it. Well, not all of sports...just baseball. And some of them don’t really care.

There lies the real problem with baseball. They just don’t get it. I don’t think any of them do. They possibly have the best “game” of all of the professional sports....but they just don’t know what to do with it. There is more strategy [and time to figure strategy] than any of the other sports. It is a game where you have guys from the inner city....the fields of the midwest....the lands of the far east....and all around Central America in the same game. What other league can state they have that kind of diversity on their playing field?

While the NBA’s David Stern and the NFL’s Pete Rozelle and Paul Tagliabue are regarded as visionaries with their leagues....baseball has been mired in a funk for 30 years. Despite cancelling the 1994 World Series....the league is still the Players Union’s *****. This is a league where one team can spend $200M on it’s roster while another spends $20M. The biggest renaissance of baseball has come from cool-looking retro stadiums and a home run race that now looks like it was pushed along by a needle.

Baseball has had a major strike that cancelled the 1994 World Series. We had an All Star game end in a tie. We just had a series of player-fan tussles this past season. About 1/3 of the teams in the league pretty much know they have no shot to make a run for the championship.

And every big admission from a MLB wrong-doer comes “out of the closet” in a written manner. They are probably smiling a bit since they no longer look like the biggest waste on thelabor front...as the NHL is set to can its season.

Jose Canseco, who has been talking about this book for about 5 years now, may finally be set to release it. What has already been released....that shouldn?t have....is the BALCO grand jury testimony to the San Francisco Chronicle. With those two forms of written document....the steroid whispers and finger pointing is now a full blown attack. Canseco [the biggest NARC since Kobe Byrant?s songbird deal on Shaq, even names President Bush in there] and his book will be viewed by many as just insider gossip and sour grapes from a guy that no one wants around anymore. However, the BALCO testimony is admitted guilt. So while the Canseco book may get people wondering....the testimony will get people informed.

The attack has already ?forced? Jason Giambi [whose testimony was leaked] into holding a press conference to apologize for.....uh.....well.....he didn?t really say. MLB seems to be disturbed....but that?s about it. I mean, you?ve only got Roger Clemons, Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire called out. I mean, they are only three of the players that have lifted baseball back up into people?s consciences in the last decade.

Lost in this, too, was the sudden death of Ken Caminiti....an admitted steroid user.

So, now this steroid issue will linger on. The Canseco book will be released, bought and read by media types that will then do a witch-hunt to hold those mentioned in the book accountable. If you think Barry Bonds was cold to the media before....imagine his demeanor after the first question about his testimony. Questions will come about the validity of his race to catch Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron on the all-time HR list. Were all his records a result of the steroids?? Or was it just talent?? Maybe a combination of both.

The funny thing is that, many baseball fans don?t seem to care. Yeah, baseball haters are pointing and laughing....but the fans don?t care. I mean, to us, most of them are already freaks of nature to begin with. That's why MLB can get away with their feeble attempts. Joe AverageFan doesn't really care. Joe likes to see home runs and high scoring games. Joe likes to watch SportsCenter and see an hour of tape measure shots instead of sac-flies and stolen bases.

A year ago, Pete Rose finally admitted to betting on baseball in his book. Yeah...I bet most of you forgot about that. A guy that many championed as getting a harsh sentence can now not find a break from even his staunchest supporters. I guess we were better off wondering. We seemed to like him better when our heads were in the sand.

I’m not a NASCAR fan...nor do I claim to be an expert in any way. But, I caught the final 30+ laps of the Daytona 500 yesterday...so I "can" talk about that. For more in depth coverage, check outThe Diecast Dude's (Mostly) NASCAR Blah Blah Blog.

In my NASCAR fantasy league....I have Tony Stewart as my main driver. When I got home and picked up the race....Stewart was leading and had been leading for quite some time. So, I decided to keep watching to see if he could hold on. He couldn’t. That’s what gets me.

Again...I am not a racing fan. Only in the past few years have I even cared about what has been going on at a race. All I know is I cannot stand the cautions. I know they are necessary for safety reasons...duh....but I just don’t like ‘em. I mean...all the momentum of what is going on gets [pardon the pun] the brakes slammed on it. I saw a couple wrecks...one looked to be a doozy...in those final laps. And that may have cost Stewart the 500. It seems to me that the wrecks enabled the field to "catch up" to Stewart...and when the restarts happened, Stewart then was crushed.

I guess "that’s racin’!" Which is fine....but I as a non-racing enthusiast didn’t enjoy it. I suppose it is like in basketball when late in the contest we get to see teams fouling to "lengthen the game". It isn’t fun to see...but it is a strategy to steal away a win. Maybe it is sour grapes. Dale Earnhardt Jr., who hadn’t done squat all race, took the lead from Stewart....then Jeff Gordon took it away from Earnhardt. Gordon kept it and won his third Daytona 500. Stewart ended up 7th.

There was 4 lead changes in the final 9 laps...and judging by the commentators it was great action. It was a heck of a sight to see. Unless you were rooting for #20. Crap!

NBA ALL STAR GAME

Vince, to Vince, for the jam

The East beat the West in the NBA All Star Game, 125-115. Allen Iverson won the game MVP with 15 points and 9 assists.

This wasn?t, despite what Shaq said, one of the best All Star games ever. In a weekend where Josh Smith blew everyone away [and made a name for himself] with the dunk contest, Carmelo Anthony got off in front of the hometown crowd in the Rookie Challenge and Phoenix Suns Q Richardson, Steve Nash and a mixed bag of Phoenix hoopsters won other challenges....the game itself really didn?t have that kind of individual explosion.

LeBron, the first time All Star, didn?t try to make a statement. Kobe and Shaq, on the court for the second time as opponents, didn?t really have much to do with each other on the court [though Kobe was booed during pre game introductions]. Duncan and KG were their normal selves. Even the shoes, which tends to be a funny side note during the game, weren?t outlandish [aside from the Shaq Shoe-Phone that made it?s way around the front row]. Seven guys on both team averaged double figures with Ray Allen leading the game with a mere 17 points.

I am one of those idiots that enjoys the NBA All Star Game. To me, it works pretty well. It is the ultimate pick up game where you get to see greats play on the same team. I mean, a Duncan-Garnett front court with a McGrady-Kobe backcourt!?!?!? Sick! And that team LOST! You get to see that street ball mentality come out early in the game. Alley-oops. Crossovers. No look passes. But, when it gets crunch time...everyone buckles down.

My favorite play was the Kobe Bryant alley-oop to Amare Stoudamire. The Vince Carter dunk after the pass off the glass was nice. As was Shaq blowing by Yao for the dunk.

One suggestion. Instead of making fans vote for a center, two forwards and two guards....break the categories down a bit.Go ahead and set it up for one center, one point guard, one shooter, one slasher and one posting forward....so we don?t have TD and KG on one end and Grant Hill and LeBron on the other. Just a thought.

NHL RE-CANCELS SEASON

What was that aboot???

Wow. That was pretty heart gouging! After the season was officially cancelled mid-week...Friday there was some hope and possibility that the season could be saved. ESPN made up the term "uncancelled" and many experts were reporting on the immanent 28-game NHL season.

Oops!

Instead, it turns out they were just doing a autopsy on the deceased season...and found out why the passing occurred. Former players and current owners Mario Lemieux and Wayne Gretzky went to the players and tried to help bang out a deal....basically telling them that this was pretty much the best they?d get.

I?m not getting into the details...I?ve already done so [THE PUCK STOPS HERE]. But, how cruel is that to give hockey fans that sliver of hope [which everyone overblew into a deal] yet to pull the carpet out again. Congrats, NHL!!! Yet another obstacle you must deal with to win fans back.

THANKS, DUKE!!!

With Duke's win over Wake...Carolina pulls into the lead

Let me say this. I didn?t root for Dook against Wake Forest....but I can?t say that I am angry that Dook won that game, either.

Yesterday, Duke beat Wake Forest 102-92

A week ago, North Carolina, Duke and Wake Forest were tied at 8-2 for the ACC lead. The bad part for me, a UNC fan, is the fact that we had lost already to Duke and Wake. So we need them to lose. Duke immediately lost their next to games....at Maryland and at Virginia Tech. Surveying Wake?s remaining schedule...this game against Duke may be the only legit shot for a loss. And it happened.

So, basically, the Carolina loss to Duke is meaningless...except for the smack talk. Carolina lost it?s ACC lead...but now has it back. Carolina dropped from its #2 ranking in the nation...but losses to Kansas and Kentucky will almost assuredly get that back.

So, as of now...the Tar Heels lead the ACC with an 10-2 mark, the Deacs are second at 10-3 with the Blue Devils at 9-4. Carolina wins out....and they win the ACC regular season title and the top seed in the ACC tournament. That is big, since it keeps them away from BOTH Duke and Wake....playing only the winner in a possible ACC title tilt.

ENOUGH WITH THE YANKEES AND RED SOX!!

I don?t live in the northeast section of our country. So, just a news flash to everyone up there....not everyone cares about your teams! As an AOL blogger...I'll read Monponsett for Red Sox news or Coztanza's Commentary for Yankees views.

Sure, we have to listen to the Red Sox World Series talk and the Patriots dynasty. Sure, the Yanks-Sox ALCS was one of the most classic moments in sports history.....but do we really, really, really, really, really need to have the Yankees-Red Sox thrown down our throats constantly??? OKAY!! WE GET IT!! YOU GUYS DON?T LIKE EACH OTHER!!!!

The freaking season opens up with *gasp* the Yankees vs Red Sox. Randy Johnson vs Curt Schilling...former Diamondback teammates [and World Series co-MVPs]...will be on the mound for the opening game, which ESPN gladly set aside for it?s own opening. So, we baseball fans, have to see ESPN and Peter Gammons drone on and on about the Yanks and Sox. Every strain, every pitch, every word.

It has already started. This week, there was smacked lobbed from several Red Sox at Alex Rodriguez...the "missing piece" to a championship puzzle that was never completed. We get the pleasure of having reporters implanted in their spring training sites to keep the hype going. Why not head down to the Marlins, Braves, Cardinals or Giants spring training digs?? They are contenders too...and only the Yanks OR Red Sox can get to the World Series. We have the "Countdown" to Jason Giambi?s arrival in camp so they can kill him loudly about the steroids.

Why isn?t anyone even worrying about Barry Bonds?? He, too, admitted to taking steroids...and he?s the much better player. And he?s set to do something significant soon. What is that?? Hmmm.. Oh, PASS BABE RUTH FOR ALL TIME HR HITTER FOR A LEFT HANDER!!!! Just a little focus there, please? I?d be willing to bet it will be ESPN?s Pedro Gomez that gets that assignment...while they?ll have 25 people in Florida to report on both the Red Sox and Yankees.

At least this does move Jose Canseco a bit off the map...which he needs to go.

MAYBE MCCOMBS WILL STILL OWN THE VIKES?

Gotta love that NFL!

After people were trumpeting the idea of Reggie Fowler buying the Minnesota Vikings and becoming the NFL?s first majority minority [nice oxy-moron] owner. Well...to be safe, I'll say first African American owner....since Rams owner Georgia Frontiere is technically a "minority owner" since she is a woman.

Anyway, apparently, his business dealings aren?t all kosher. He?s been sued at least 35 times over the past 15 years for his business dealings. He borrows heavily against his commercial properties...and is the landlord for a business owner that has been involved is a college points shaving scandal.

Fowler?s Spiral Inc owns a flight-simulator factory in Colorado, a cattle ranch in Texas, real estate company in Arizona, "Shammy Man" car washes in Phoenix and some other minor holdings. The "Shammy Man" business relationship with Joe Gagliano is raising eyebrows as Gagliano was involved in the point shaving scandal that rocked Arizona State a few years back. Fowler?s people state that he only owns the land that the car washes are on....and Gagliano ?rents" the land for his businesses in a tenant-landlord relationship. Conveniently, Fowler is intending to sell those plots of land where those car washes sit when he moves to Minneapolis to watch over his biggest investment...the Vikings.

What may keep Fowler away is his non-payments on several [read: three-dozen] bills that have gone to court. Fowler dismisses them as minor...many people around the NFL are wondering why a multi-million dollar business fails to pay its bills and that it looks poorly on the NFL and a franchise that is already having issues with a new stadium. What that means is that many people don?t think that Fowler actually has the money to buy the Vikings...which the rumored price is $625M.

Fowler also has been taken to task about his athletic "achievements". He claimed to have played in the NFL for the Cincinnati Bengals, in the CFL for the Calgary Stampeders and in the Little League World Series when he was 11. Instead, he admits, he was cut in training camp by the Bengals and the Edmonton Eskimos [not Calgary]...and was in a All Star tournament when he was young that "they called a World Series".

He also doctored his resume that stated he had a degree in business administration from Wyoming....when actually he received a degree in social work. He admits that he did so to look good for employers...but that he hasn?t bothered to correct his resume since he?s his own boss now.

Let me start off by making this statement: I really think that I am one of a very select few people that can separate an athlete on and off the field. I mean, I am a Laker fan....and I love Kobe Bryant on that court. Man, is he awesome. Off the court, I think he’s a jerk. A prima donna jerk.

Same thing with Barry Bonds. The two differences is that, one, Kobe seems like a jerk to me by things that happen around him and stuff people say about him. Barry Bonds does it himself. Listen to him....and you’ll find him to be a jerk. I mean, any one who complains that his job of standing in left field is a hard job has massive stones. The other difference is that Kobe will stand in front of the camera....smile and pal around like he’s a regular Joe. A nice cat if you really know him. Barry Bonds could care less what you or I think of him. I mean, do you really ever see him steppin’ and fetchin’ for the media just so he gets some image points?? Nope. So, he’s a jerk that knows he’s a jerk and could care less he’s a jerk. Sometimes it is him saying things that most people won’t say.....like some of the stuff he says about the untouchable Babe Ruth. Sometimes it is just whining. Sometimes it is just contradicting yourself....which he did a lot of Tuesday.

First off....he held a news conference to tell the media that he hates them getting into his business. A time honored celebrity tradition. You hate the people that helped make you a household name. And before we get into this....remember, I am not part of "the media". I write a blog. Just my takes on things in the world of sports. I have NO journalistic intent. I’m just some guy, with a computer, who loves sports and loves talking about it. I, too, find the media contradictory as well. I mean, they bash Jason Giambi for basically saying nothing.....and now they are bashing Barry Bonds for saying everything. And they are really bashing him for bashing them. Oh, then he says that the media "don’t bother" him.

Okay...back to my writing here. So, Barry doesn?t like the media asking questions. Hey, why not go up to Washington....go into the White House...and tell George Bush that you don?t appreciate the US GOVERNMENT going through your business. I mean, after all, wasn?t it grand jury testimony in a federal case against BALCO that made you admit to using steroids?? The media?s job is to report on this stuff.

In all actuality, the media really has laid off the steroid problem in baseball. I mean, Jose Canseco is saying all of this stuff was going on in the last 1980s. So, it has been over 15 years that there has been admitted steroid abuse.....yet it "breaks" now?? Steroids, it seems, is like promiscuity to athletes. Everyone around the game knows about it. The coaches, staff, other players and the media. And just like they don?t report on guys with women on their arms that aren?t their wives....they also aren?t reporting what?s going on with the performance enhancers. They have to now....since there is heat from Senator McCain, an investigation into BALCO which links the sport, and by a book by a former athlete who used steroids and is singing like a bird.

Bonds goes on to smack Canseco about "fictional stuff" that he isn?t sure if it is or isn?t true. I will say this about Canseco. He may be a snitch who needs some money.....but when baseball set up a lax testing system that gave everyone advance notice of the testing...and STILL over 5% of players tested positive for steroids....well, I guess there is fire there. And it is getting out of control. And it is important since it really affects everything that has happened in the last decade or so. The 70 McGwire put up....and the 73 Bonds put up. Those great seasons Sosa had. Everything. Every thing.

Of course, his big defense [other than the legal restrictions around him discussing steroids] is "yeah I have lied.....but you guys have lied too!" Wow. An argument that a 5-year old may make. "Yeah...but you did it too!" That usually is followed by something about your friends and jumping off a bridge. He even pulled the ?alcohol and tobacco is worse? card as well.

He went on to whine "you need to clean out your closets before you start trying to clean mine!"

He also said that he is"not willing to talk about other athletes, because that?s not my style." He then goes on to talk about Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire. He says "I don?t have anything to talk about Jose".....then says "You gotta come with a whole lot more. It?s just to make a buck. I was better than him then...and I?ve been better than him his whole career."

So I go back to my original point. I am 29 years old. Barry Bonds is the greatest baseball player in my lifetime. He is one of the greatest baseball players that ever lived. To me, he is worthy of his MVP awards. He is worth of his single season home run record. He is worthy of passing Hank Aaron.

But, he?s still a jerk.

CLICK HERE if you want to read a transcript of Barry Bonds press conference

First off, the NCAA Tournament began. I have DirecTV and bought the MEGA MARCH MADNESS package...so I "got all the games"!! God, I love basketball. I sat and watched all of the games. I have THREE TVs in my ‘Sportz Room’ so I did get to view 3 of the 4 games played without picking up a remote.

At 8:00, the Miami Heat hosted the LA Lakers on TNT. Well, that is Shaq v Kobe...but I’ve really gotten tired of the Lakers efforts this season. No, not their record....their efforts. If I wanted to see a team gun 3-point shots....I’d be a Wisconsin-Milwaukee booster or a JJ Redick fan. I’m neither. So, aside from catching glimpses here and there....I didn’t really focus on it.

But, something I had absolutely no interest in....yet found myself viewing...was the Senate hearings on steroids in baseball. It wasn’t enthralling, nor was it educational. Usually, in Senate hearings that involve issues in the mainstream...the politicians ask obvious softball questions that just furthers the thinking how out of touch they really are.

Some were....which was good.....and some were big baseball fans....which was good. For the most part, aside from the monotony of some of the questions....the committee members actually asked some uncomfortable questions.

I caught some of Senator Bunning’s remarks [he’s my elected official]. I caught some of the Witness Panel before the March Madness began. But, the players and baseball management panels were both quite interesting and quite disturbing. So, I caught myself tuning in from time to time.

First, the players. Curt Schilling [who along with Frank Thomas will be on a task force] looked and sounded very comfortable in his surroundings [it was even mentioned that he could have a career in politics]. He openly attacked Jose Canseco for writing his book [other players did it in veiled comments].

SammySosa

, who had his lawyer and interpreter on the panel with him, sounded very composed. In his prepared statement, he states that he has never used steroids. Raphael Palmeiro came out the best. Not only did he flatly come out, pointing even, that he has never used steroids.....he sounded like a man with absolutely nothing to hide. When asked if it would take Olympic-type punishment to eradicate steroids from the MLB, Palmeiro, unlike others, said he wouldn?t care since he had nothing to hide anyways. Good answer. I?ve gained much respect for you!

How did Jose Canseco do??? Well, better than I thought. While jabs were sent his way for writing this book, which is pretty much why everyone is there, he did compose himself pretty well and came off pretty much as the guy who wrote the book. He was denied immunity, but still answered all questions, though in a manner that excused himself from anything, and made a good effort to get his message out. While other players downplayed the magnitude of steroids in baseball....Canseco stood by his claim that it is and was a rampant problem that needs government intervention. He opposed baseball policing itself [the others were willing to play out the new testing program]. His best quote was, "from what I am hearing, I was the only individual in Major League Baseball to use steroids. That?s hard to believe." Classic!

The big loser on the players side is easily Mark McGwire. While Big Mac is retired....his footprints are all over this "Steroid Era" of baseball. He was the one that set the home run record [that Bonds soon bested]. He is sixth all time in home runs. He has been linked to andro. McGwire, unlike Canseco, really contributed nothing to the hearings. When asked any uncomfortable questions, McGwire simply answered with "I?m not here to talk about the past." When asked how he could be a spokesperson for steroids being bad news if he never actually knew anyone [or himself] that was affected by the drug.....he pulled the "my attorneys advise me to not comment." Thus placing his name alongside the phrase "steroid user". He looked very, very bad. The committee members even seemed to grow tired of McGwire?s dodging of their questions.AOL News - McGwire Steroids Statement to Congress

Then, the baseball officials came in....most notably commissioner Bud Selig and union leader Donald Fehr. The committee members essentially attacked Selig for poor leadership in striving for stricter penalties...and attacked Fehr for basically not letting MLB put in place the harsher penalties. The new drug policy was completely ridiculed for the variety of loopholes and "drafting errors" in it.

All in all, this was a horrible day for baseball in many aspects. Public relations-wise...this was a nightmare. You had players up there like ostriches, with their heads in the sand. You had baseball executives openly accused of being inept. You had, arguably, the most important baseball player in the last 20 years run and hide from any question about steroids. You even had some comments from committee members that baseball?s anti-trust exemption may be used as blackmail to get this straightened out.

People said that these hearings won?t amount to much. Maybe that is tangibly true. However, this is one of those forks in the road that baseball needs to assess itself. Continue down the path of "don?t ask, don?t tell" or really try to get this thing squared away before this is the WWE.

What do I think?? Well, I am in favor of ONE uniform drug policy over all of athletics. MLB, NFL, NBA, NCAA, high schools, whatever. Have that one uniform code that all sports must abide by. Maybe not as harsh as the Olympic code [which, by the way, doesn?t stop people from cheating there]. If they want to add even stiffer penalties...fine. But put it all under one umbrella so that athletes and the average guy will get the same treatment under the laws. Whether it is Barry Bonds or Joe Schmo.

*I disagree with the Suns’ Mike D’Antoni being the NBA Coach Of The Year. Not that he didn’t do a great job....but I think the award should have went elsewhere. The best reason he won is the fact that Phoenix won just 29 games last year and then were a 60-win team this year. Now, D’Antoni was at the helm most of last year and led Phoenix to a 21-40 mark. But, that team was riddled with injuries and demolished by trades. They dealt Stephon Marbury, Penny Hardaway and others and Amare Stoudemire played in only 55 games. My pick was George Karl because he instantly impacted the Nuggets season when he arrived. Or how about Seattle’s Nate McMillian who won the Northwest Division when no one thought they could even make the playoffs? Or Rick Carlisle?? He lost Ron Artest for most of the year....Stephen Jackson and Jermaine O’Neal for big chunks of the year...Reggie Miller at the start of the season...and having to keep it all together while people were labeling your team as thugs as your players are setting up court appearances after The Brawl.

*So, Monday Night Football is now on ESPN. Great. Is it me, or has broadcast TV just grown tired of sports? All of the sudden, the NFL thinks that it's Sunday night game is a much better deal than the MNF tilt. Maybe, since the games you schedule are tired. NBC will take anything...so the Sunday game is lovely for them. It also makes you think that instead of fiddling with MNF games...they'll reschedule the Sunday ones for NBC. Anyway...has ABC televised an NBA playoff game yet?? TNT seems to be the official network of the NBA. That was so 20 years ago! The NHL was entrenched on ESPN....and major league baseball is mainly a Fox Sports Net deal. Even the Olympics were shown primarily on cable. Not that I mind games on cable [or satelitte for me]...but it sucks that I can't watch any games at my work. I work 2nd shift...and have to watch Everyone Love Raymond, The Next Top Amazing Surviving Idol Race, Nanny Smacking Kids, CSI: Miami Criminal Negligence Intent SUV, a whiny rich kid vehicle or some horrible retread of a sitcom. But can you throw a baseball game up there during the week. Or does everyone have to see Judge Joe Brown and their stories every day???

*There are TWO weeks remaining until the Nextel Cup series stops off in Charlotte for a nice fortnight of racing. Again, I'm not a Nascar fan at all....but being a Charlottean, osmosis forces some racing knowledge into your life. So, I'll be eager to check out The Diecast Dude's (Mostly) NASCAR Blah Blah Blog for the haps surrounding the All Star race and the gruling Coca-Cola 600. Right now, he has a pope take, one on sudden star Greg Biffle, and recaps of the Darlington race. One of the finest blog reads you'll come across.

*Some interesting notes about Steve Nash. He's the third shortest MVP [Iverson and Cousy were shorter] in NBA history. He's only the third point guard to win the award [Magic and Cousy]. Only Nash, Cousy, Magic, Jordan, Iverson and Oscar Robertson have won the MVP from the guard position. Nash also joins Hakeem Olajawon as the only non-Americans to win the NBA MVP award. He joins Charles Barkley as the only Phoenix Suns to win the award. He also may get the distinction of being the only MVP to NOT get into the Hall Of Fame. On his merit to date...he definitely isn't going. And, in my opinion, he has to keep this all up to get in. Every NBA MVP is in the Hall, except for active players Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan, Shaq O'Neal and Allen Iverson....and not-retired-long-enough Karl Malone, Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, David Robinson and Hakeem Olajawon. All of those names will be there in due time. Nash won't.

*For the first time since mid-January....I wasn't on . Since I'm not a baseball "fanatic" [I love the game....but I'm not a Yankee or Red Sox fan], I missed out on the show. No worries....I'll be back on soon enough. I hope to get back in there on some NBA coverage [I told them allthat the Wizards would beat the Bulls in 6 games!!]. Again, the show has been great to me and I relish every time I can be fortunate to appear. Heck, last time I was on after Scoop Jackson and disagreeing with him. Can't wait for football and college hoops to start back up! I'll be entrenched again.

*How did PJ Brown get a vote for NBA MVP????? People who do crap like this to be funny or poingnant should lose their vote. Give it to me......cuz I would've given my vote to Shaq.

*What is LeBron James thinking??? He's firing his agent because, he believes, he's going to get the maximum contract from NBA teams anyways....so why have an agent? Uh....maybe because they can hook you up with $90 million Nike deals and your own line of chewing gum. The Goodwin Brothers [James' agents] set LeBron up with $120M worth of endorsements before he even donned a Cavaliers jersey. Only Tiger Woods, Michael Schumacher and David Beckham pull in more endoresment money in sports than LeBron. But, that isn't good enough. He'd rather his friend, "Maverick" Carter, manage his career now. Joining the "Maverick" in Team LeBron will be LBJ's road manager Randy Mims. There is also rumors that Russell Simmons, founder of Def Jam Records, could be also involved. If so...the NBA may want to check in to this...since Simmons bought back into Def Jam where Jay-Z is currently the president. Jay-Z has ownership in the New Jersey Nets...so there is a question of conflict of interest. One of LeBron's best qualities was how mature he was at such a young age. All I'm saying is take a gander at the last superstar guard who was a sidekick to a tiny puppet in commercials. I mean, where are Big and Little Penny now-a-days??

*Phillies outfielder Bobby Abreau recently dumped his fiance after finding out she had sex with another man on a Mexican reality TV show called "La Granja". His fiance, Alicia Machado, is a former Miss Venezuela and Miss Universe. However, she won't be Mrs. Abreau because he kicked her to the curb upon finding out.

*Speaking of dumb moves, Monponsett goes over the worst trades of all time [High Above Courtside]. Quite a few Laker deals in there.

*It is just one week away until the midnight showing of Star Wars Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith. I've had my tickets for over a month now.

*Tampa Bay is currently 1-10 away from Tropicana Field. Houston is 2-14 away from Minute Maid Park. I guess it really is hard for baseball to get "off the juice".

*Does it get any worse for the steroid people?? Barry Bonds, who has been one of the ironmen of baseball, can't shake his knee injury and has no idea when he'll return. He's had two weird news conferences, the IRS is on his tail, a mistress came out on him, his doctor is shady and the trainer who's involved in the BALCO scandal is still working out with him. Now, Jason Giambi can't play. He sucks so bad since getting off the juice that the Yankees are toying with sending him to the minors. Yep..a former MVP may get sent to Columbus. It most likely won't happen because Giambi has to OK it....which he most likely wouldn't. Naaaaaawww.....this steroid thing isn't a black eye at all!

*For a week now, I've heard the rumors of the Sacramento Kings checking into Phil Jackson's interest in coaching. Coztanza's Commentary breaks it down for us. But, wouldn't the Kings courting Phil Jackson be the biggest hypocritical move since.....the Lakers going after Phil Jackson? Despite Shaq naming the franchise the "Queens" and the utter disdain over Kobe Bryant....it was Phil Jackson the fanned the flames to that rivalry. He called them "Cowtown". He called them uncivilized. He was the first to rock cotton balls in his ears to sound out the cow bells [way to show him, Sacto!]. Now, they want him to coach them....even though they currently have a coach. Class act guys!

*Who is the defending Stanley Cup champion??? Anyone...anyone?? See...that is why the NHL isn't respected. Oh, and it is Tampa Bay for those who were actually attempting to answer that. Maybe someday soon they will get the point that no one really missed the NHL? I mean, we had to-the-wall college hoops and more baseball coverage because there has been no hockey to screw it up. If the NHL was on, we'd have to sift thru games on ESPN [1 and 2] to see a stunning 2-1 game. Not to mention the highlights eat up some of ESPNews content....and we'd all have to look at Barry Melrose's slicked mullet and cockney Canadian accent [a-boot....Cal-GARY....OH-fense....bean].

*How doyou lose a Game 7 by 40 POINTS!?!?!?!?!

*Ricky Henderson is 46 years old...and still in baseball. Sort of. He'll be suiting up for the San Diego Surf Dawgs of the Golden Baseball League this season. The "GBL" is a brand spanking new independent league that begins play in a few weeks. The Surf Dawgs play in Tony Gwynn Stadium at San Diego State University. You can make fun of this all you want....but if the guys wants to do it, why not? He'll make $3,000 per month for playing [there are some marketing perks] for San Diego...so it isn't about the money. In my opinion...Ricky Henderson is one of the best players in baseball history. His 130 stolen bases in 1982 is practically unreal! He's hit 297 HRs in his career...over 3000 hits....he led his league in stolen bases 12 times for a total that is over 1400!!! No onehas scored more runs...and only Barry Bonds has walked more than Henderson.